Donations Needed: 2018 Racing Against Leukemia Raffle

2018 Racing Against Leukemia It's that time of year. Since 1990, the New England Region has designed a weekend of events to show our support for families battling childhood cancers. And while enjoying our favorite motorsports activities, we also raise funds for the UMass Children's Medical Research Center. It's Racing Against Leukemia (RAL) time! Last year, NER raised $10,017 between Road Racing, Rally, and Solo events. This year, we are once again offering numerous ways our NER members can participate in RAL events while having #funwithcars. Palmer Motorsports Park will host the Road Racing and Rally events, while Solo competitors will head to Devins Airfield. Both road racing and rally events are coinciding at Palmer in a single weekend of competition, raffles, prizes and fun! Road Racing This year's RAL road racing event and annual Pig Roast is scheduled for September 8-9.  REGISTER HERE! Rally Never raced a Rally before? This is your chance! The Saturday, September 8 Rally does NOT require any special license or even a SCCA membership to compete. Show up with a driver/navigator and a properly insured vehicle, and we will put you on the course.  REGISTER HERE! Solo The NER Points #9 Solo event scheduled for Sunday, [...]

By |2018-07-23T09:38:51-04:00July 23rd, 2018|Featured, Region News|

Flagging Life: How F&C has Changed Through the Years

Written by: Dave Rodman My, what a difference a few decades can make -- obviously in any aspect of life -- but particularly in my experience, when it comes to "flagging and communications" or "F&C" as it's known in race track shorthand. But the first thing you ought to understand -- and the coolest aspect of the game, particularly if you're reading this site -- is that the SCCA is the portal to an arena that the imagination hardly does justice to. Whether you're an SCCA member or not, checking event schedules should be easily accomplished. Whether you're interested in Club racing, performance or TSD rallying, autocross or rallycross there's an event you can attend. Finding a contact person should be as easy as finding an event. Heck, if you're stuck contact me and I'll get you pointed in the right direction. For me, being an SCCA flagger was my invitation to work events in F1, IndyCar, IMSA and NASCAR. SCCA itself opened the door to professional Formula Atlantic, Trans-Am and Can-Am. Even this week, in the aftermath of an SCCA Majors event at my home track in Thompson, Conn., came an invitation to flag a Formula E Grand Prix in [...]

By |2018-07-19T11:01:15-04:00July 17th, 2018|Featured, Worker Specialties|

Lime Rock Park Paddock Crawl

Perfect Race Weather The forecast was for picture perfect weather for the annual Paddock Crawl regional at Lime Rock park over Father's Day weekend. And the weathermen did not disappoint. While there were a few drizzles and sprinkles sporadically through the day on Friday, overall, it was the ideal setting for a great race weekend. Cooler temperatures on Friday led to sun and comfortable warmth on Saturday. With 7 groups on the schedule, more than 150 competitors showed up to compete in the NERRC Regional, a good representation from all classes.  Friday was plagued by unexpected radio issues between race control and the corner stations which caused a few minor delays. But hats off to all the stewards, chiefs and workers for managing the hiccups and keeping the races running. Friday had the first Qualifying session in the morning followed by a Qualifying Sprint race in the afternoon. The best time from those two sessions would determine the grid for Saturday morning's race. Finishing position from the morning would then set the grid for the afternoon race. Race Highlights Kicking off each morning in Group 1 was our favorite Spec Racer cars. [...]

By |2018-06-22T19:25:47-04:00June 21st, 2018|Featured, Road Racing|

Welcome to the New Pit Talk!

Pit Talk set the standard for region communications when it first debuted almost 75 years ago. Repeatedly recognized and awarded for its coverage of region events and a way to share the stories and adventures of racers throughout the Northeast, it is with pleasure that the New England Region is now launching the next generation of this historic and classic publication. Welcome to the new PITTALK.ORG! A New Digital Format As media outlets across the country have realized, the new face of communications is digital. Traditional printed publications are on the decline as readers and viewers transition to screens and mobile devices to obtain, view, and share news. It is with this eye on the current and the future that the region made the decision to re-create everything NER members love about the traditional Pit Talk, but in a new digital format. Additionally, by utilizing a web-based platform, the editors of Pit Talk will now have greater functionality at our fingertips to offer more interactive and engaging content. From video clips to social-media sharing, the new Pit Talk is no longer limited to simply a printed page. What to Expect PitTalk.org will not be a static site. Far from [...]

By |2018-06-17T20:17:48-04:00June 17th, 2018|Featured, Region News|

SCCA – It’s a Lifestyle

"SCCA, it's a lifestyle." Ain't it the truth! Childhood is special when one never grows up, but accrues all the wisdom and experience of adulthood, tempered with a child's reverent wonder. SCCA membership can foster that. And that never-ending childhood is particularly wonderful when you can engage in a pastime as a relatively young person -- and rapturously fall in love with it... And then carry it on, and on, and on -- as long as you can walk, talk and think. SCCA can definitely enable that. And even if you get torn asunder from this passionate activity for 20 years through an inevitable passage through the harsh realities of adulthood... Only to revert back, with that patented childlike glee -- but this time truly fortified with an adult's wisdom, well, that's akin to perfection. As strange as it sounds, it's true -- because it's exactly what I've experienced. And as you might've figured, the SCCA was an integral part. Ancient history is always relevant because 1) it should've taught us lessons and 2) it's the foundation on which we currently rest. Thank God SCCA is part of my good ole days. My racing history started in 1960 at what we today [...]

By |2018-06-17T20:13:58-04:00June 5th, 2018|Featured, Worker Specialties|